Crunches And Ab Exercises Do NOT = Sexy Abs

May 10, 2008 - PRLog -- For those of you who are trying hard to lose inches and sculpt a set of sexy abs this summer here's a few secret tips:

1. Don't do crunches or ab machines- I know it's hard to believe but these exercises are some of the LEAST EFFECTIVE ways to get sexy abs.

That's because they do not boost your metabolism very much which means you don't burn that many calories while doing them. Think about this for a minute. How many people have you seen in the gyms doing crunches and other ab exercises like leg raises, torso twists and such but their bodies never really change. They never get their abs lean with these exercises and yet they keep on doing them day after day, week after week and year after year with no real results to show for it.

2. Crunches and ab machines do not burn fat from your "trouble areas"- This is a common myth known as "spot reducing"which so many are led to believe works, but to this day there is no scientific research that proves this occurs. And if it can it most certainly will not happen by doing isolated exercises like crunches and sit-ups or other ab machines.

Sorry, but if you want to say goodbye to that muffin top it's going to take a disciplined approach to your diet and some resistance training to get to your goal.

3. Crunches and ab machines isolate individual muscles- That means you are only getting a fraction of the results you could be getting if you used exercises that involved all the muscles of your entire abdominal complex. And the more muscles you work during a given exercise the more calories and fat you burn which is your goal for sexy abs.

One of my favorite exercises from The Hot Mom Workout is the push-up hold. Try this out and you'll feel your abs working like you've probably never felt before.

Here's how to do it:

Get into a regular push-up position on the floor on your hands and toes. Keep your back slighly arched and head straight. Keep your elbows completely straight too. Now try to hold this position for 30 seconds.

Did you get to 30 seconds? Did you feel your stomach shaking a bit? That's because you were working every ab muscle you have in one simple movement.

So, stop the crunches and start getting your sexy abs back.

Kevin Yates is the author of the ebook "The Hot Mom Workout" that shows busy wives and moms how to get back the formerly sexy, hot bodies they used to have or aspire to. Get 5 free secrets to a butt, hip & thigh makeover by clicking HERE.